Priyanka Gandhi urges Kerala government to grant ST status to Kunduvadiyan community

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi has reiterated her demand for granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Kunduvadiyan community , urging the Kerala government to take steps for their inclusion in the official ST list.

According to a release from her office, Priyanka wrote to Kerala Minister for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Welfare O R Kelu after no favourable decision was taken on her earlier representation made on October 27, 2025 .

In her letter, Priyanka Gandhi sought the reclassification of the Kunduvadiyan community from the Other Eligible Communities (OEC) category, a Kerala-specific classification for socially and economically backward groups to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list, citing the community’s long history of discrimination and socio-economic deprivation.

Priyanka pointed out that the community, with a population of over 500 , has long faced severe discrimination and was subjected to bonded and forced labour . She noted that the Kunduvadiyan community has a distinct language and cultural identity and lives largely in isolation , factors commonly associated with Scheduled Tribe communities.

The Congress leader, who is also the AICC general secretary , said she had earlier apprised the minister of the difficulties faced by the community in accessing education, employment, and other opportunities . Owing to the absence of ST status, the community continues to suffer cultural and economic marginalisation, she added.

Priyanka further cited a study conducted by the Kerala Institute for Research, Training and Development Studies (KIRTADS) for the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and NITI Aayog, which had recommended the inclusion of the Kunduvadiyan community in the Scheduled Tribe category.

Under Article 342 of the Constitution , the President specifies Scheduled Tribes for each state or Union Territory, in consultation with the Governor, and any subsequent inclusion or exclusion can be done only through an Act of Parliament. The process typically involves ethnographic studies, recommendations by the state government, scrutiny by the Registrar General of India and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, followed by approval from the Union Cabinet and Parliament.

If accepted, the demand would grant the community access to constitutional safeguards, reservation benefits, and targeted welfare schemes , potentially improving social mobility and economic conditions. Rejection, however, could mean the continuation of long-standing deprivation and renewed demands for recognition.

Priyanka said granting ST status would be a significant step towards addressing historical injustice faced by the Kunduvadiyan community.